It's finally time to remove the extra wheels and ride the bike! The process of removing the extra wheels can be very quick, easy, and exciting, whether it's for a child trying to learn to ride a bicycle on their own or a parent helping their child. Don't be nervous – sooner or later everyone has to learn to ride a bike without extra wheels!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Learning How to Bike Without Extra Wheels
Step 1. Wear a helmet and safety gear
You should “always” wear a helmet when cycling, but you may also want to wear other safety equipment. This will make cycling without extra wheels less daunting. Since the safety gear prevents getting hurt, you won't be so afraid of falling or bumping into something. Here are a few things you might want to put on your first bike ride without extra wheels:
- Elbow pads
- Knee pads
- wrist protector
Step 2. Make sure your feet can touch the ground
Bikes won't be so scary to ride when you know that you can stop yourself. Before removing the extra wheels, get on the bike and try to touch the ground with your feet. If you can't reach the ground, ask an adult to help lower the saddle.
It's okay if you can't touch the ground with both feet at once when sitting on the pedals-you only need one foot to stop while still in the saddle. However, you should be able to touch the ground with both feet when standing in front of the saddle
Step 3. Find a flat surface to ride on
Take the bike to a large, open, level area, such as a park or parking lot. Places with fine grass are best-you won't get sick if you fall into the grass, so the workout won't be scary. You can practice on your own, but it's easier to have a friend or adult help out.
If your bike still has extra wheels, ask an adult to help remove them before going to the gym
Step 4. Practice pedaling and braking
Sit in the saddle and maintain the position by placing your feet on the ground. Put one foot on the pedal and push it down! Push the body forward and the other leg at the same time. Put both feet on the pedals and keep pedaling! If you have to stop, pedal backwards (unless your bike has a handbrake-then you just have to press it with your fingers).
Don't be afraid to put your feet down if you have to! The first few times you practice pedaling, it feels as if you're going to fall, so don't worry if you have to stop and lower your feet to the ground
Step 5. Practice turning while pedaling
When you have mastered starting and stopping, try turning left and right. While pedaling forward, turn the handlebars slightly to the right. You should be pointing to the right. Next, turn the handlebars slightly to the left. You should be pointing to the left. Try turning a little further on each side-see how far you can turn without feeling uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to stop if you have trouble turning!
It's actually more difficult to turn if you're pedaling really slowly than if you're pedaling really fast. When you're barely moving, it's hard to balance the bike, so if you're having trouble turning, try pedaling faster
Step 6. Practice going up and down hills
Next, look for a slope or small hill. Try pedaling up-you need to push harder than normal to get to the top! When you are at the top, try to go down slowly. Use the brakes to keep moving slow. When it's at the bottom, go up again, and this time, pedal faster. Do this again and again until you can go down hill without using the brakes.
- Be patient! It will take some time for you to make your way down the hill without stopping, so don't worry if you can't do it the first time you try.
- Start with a small hill. Don't try to get off a big hill until you're good at riding a bike without extra wheels.
Step 7. Enlist the help of a friend or parent to encourage you if necessary
Learning to ride a bicycle without extra wheels will be much easier if someone helps you. If you can, try asking a parent or friend who can cycle without extra wheels, or your sibling for help. They will make learning easier for you in many ways, but one of the best aids is to run close to you and hold the bike until you can pedal on your own.
Step 8. Don't give up
Learning how to ride a bicycle without extra wheels can be daunting at times, but once you do, cycling can be so much more fun. If you can't cycle without extra wheels after the first day of training, don't worry-you will eventually. Try again with the help of a friend or an adult when you have the chance. Never give up – riding a bicycle without extra wheels is something almost everyone should learn. Each time you train, riding the bike without the extra wheels gets easier and easier until it's the only way you can cycle.
Method 2 of 3: Teaching Children to Ride their Own Bike
Step 1. Take the child to an open area with a small hill
Although all children learn differently, for many children gliding slowly down long, smooth slopes is one of the easiest ways to learn. Gliding at a slow, controlled pace allows the child to get comfortable with the idea that riding a bicycle without extra wheels is almost as easy as riding a bicycle with extra wheels.
Grass areas can be suitable for practice. The grass prevents the child from pedaling too fast and is soft if the child falls, so the experience will be less stressful for him. The last thing you want is for your child to fall badly and be afraid to ride a bike without extra wheels so he won't try again
Step 2. Make sure the child is well protected and the bike is the right height
Don't let your child ride a bicycle without a helmet. It is not only dangerous, but also a bad habit to get used to in children. You may also want to let your child wear extra gear like knee and elbow pads-for a nervous child, this extra protection can help him feel more confident. Finally, make sure the child can reach the ground with his feet when sitting in the saddle, adjust if necessary.
Note that some places have laws that require all cyclists under a certain age to wear a helmet. In some circumstances, disobeying the law like this can be considered a minor violation of the parental law
Step 3. Let the child slide down while you hold
When your child is ready to ride a bike, let him slide down the hill or slope of the practice site. Grasp his shoulders or the back of the saddle to hold his body in position. Repeat several times until your child is confident and comfortable moving forward on the bike without your help.
While you are walking or jogging beside the bicycle, be careful not to place your feet in front of (or between) the wheels
Step 4. Let the child slide down using his feet to stop
Next, let the child glide along the same route slowly and easily, but don't hold him this time unless necessary. Instruct the child to use his feet to control or stop if needed. It teaches children the importance of the balance techniques needed for cycling in a safe and controlled setting.
If the child starts to lose control, pull them to keep it straight. While a few falls may be unavoidable, you should avoid them if you can, as falling can scare your child away
Step 5. Let the child slide down using the brakes
Next, do the same thing as before, except, this time tell the child to use the bicycle brake to control his speed. When he gets to the bottom, tell him to stop using the brakes. Repeat as necessary until your child feels confident slowing down and stopping without your help. Teaching your child that he can always stop the bike if necessary is a very important part of building his confidence to ride a bike.
Most children's bicycles have a foot brake-in other words, the child must pedal backwards to brake. Many cycling training resources recommend foot brakes for children learning to ride a bicycle without extra wheels because learning how to use a handbrake in addition to all the other skills required to cycle without extra wheels can overwhelm young children. But if your child's bike has a handbrake, it's still possible for him to learn to use the handbrake-but more practice may be needed
Step 6. Teach turning on a flat area
Next, move to a more even area. Have the child start pedaling forward, then brake to stop. Repeat several times until he is comfortable. Then, direct the child to bend the handlebars slightly when pedaling forward. Walk beside the child when he turns, help when needed. It will take some time for your child to confidently turn, so be patient.
Ideally, the child should learn to lean toward the bend slightly. However, sometimes this can be difficult to communicate to young children, so you may want to let your child find that out on their own
Step 7. Teach your child to pedal up a paved incline
Next, ask the child to pedal up a smooth slope. Here, hard surfaces are preferable to grass because grass makes it difficult for the child to gain sufficient speed to successfully climb. Tell the child to push the pedal hard, and as always, help him as needed to prevent him from falling.
Step 8. Reduce your help gradually
As your child works on his skills, reduce your grip a little bit until they are comfortable just walking beside him. Then, slowly move further away from your child when he is able to ride comfortably without you by his side all the time. Slow but steady progress is key-in essence you want your child to start riding their own bicycle without realizing that they are riding alone.
Be prepared to "retreat" for a while if the child falls quite badly. It's better to provide assistance after a fall than to have your child walk it alone-it can weaken his desire to ride a bicycle on his own, making it more difficult to teach him important cycling skills in the long run
Step 9. Use positive encouragement
Stay optimistic and positive when teaching your child to ride a bicycle without extra wheels. Praise the progress. Tell him that he makes you proud when he finally manages to ride a bicycle on his own. Don't nag about doing something wrong or forcing her to do what she feels uncomfortable with. You want your kids to enjoy cycling – if they enjoy it, they will be able to continue learning on their own without your help.
Positive reinforcements that apply small rewards for good behavior are suggested by many parenting sources. Positive encouragement teaches the child that good behavior gives him love and attention, two things that are important to the child
Method 3 of 3: Learning Advanced Skills
Step 1. Try a bicycle with a handbrake
Eventually, most children stop using a bicycle with a foot brake and start using a bicycle with a hand brake. The handbrake gives cyclists a bit more control by allowing them to choose which wheel to brake. To use the handbrake, lightly press the metal bar in front of the handlebars. The rear wheel brake usually slows the bike down more gradually, while the front wheel brake slows the bike more quickly - be careful not to apply the front brake too hard or you'll fall over.
Although each child learns at their own pace, in general most children can learn to use the handbrake after about 6 years of age
Step 2. Try using a bicycle with gears
Just as most children will eventually start using the handbrake, sooner or later, most will learn to ride a bicycle with gears. Gears make it easier for a child to pedal very fast, climb steep hills, and maintain a "gliding" speed without pedaling too much. To use the gear, simply push the lever or button near the handlebar handle in the appropriate direction. You should be able to notice that the stroke is suddenly easier or heavier-the harder it feels to pedal, the faster the stroke will take you.
Again, each child learns at his own pace. Most children from 9-12 years old can use a bicycle with gears after a little basic practice
Step 3. Try standing while pedaling
Standing while pedaling instead of sitting allows you to push the pedal very hard, which makes this a great way to climb hills or pick up speed right away. Plus, you'll need to be able to stand on your bike to do a lot of biking tricks (like bunny hops or jumping over the obstacles below). You may find it difficult to maintain your balance at first or your feet may tire quickly when you first try to pedal while standing. But with a little practice, it's not hard to build the strength and balance you need to master this skill.
Step 4. Try cycling off-road, or off-road
If you're comfortable cycling on clean and flat surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and fields, try an off-road bike. You'll find it's a bit different than cycling on the road-it's usually slower, bumpy, and requires you to pay more attention to the lane in front of you. However, off road biking is a great way to experience and see a part of the wild like you've never seen before, so give it a try!
Step 5. Try jumping over obstacles
If you feel confident riding your bike at all speeds in any location, try learning a few tricks. For example, you can try jumping over obstacles by pedaling slowly, standing up, and pulling on the handlebars while pushing down and pushing your weight forward. In the air, lean forward so that you touch the ground with both wheels. While doing this, you should be able to make nice little jumps to jump over obstacles without stopping.
Don't be discouraged if you fall or tumble a few times while trying to learn to jump over obstacles and other tricks. Minor scratches and bruises are part of learning-you can't learn without making a few mistakes
Tips
If you don't have enough time to make a turn, jump off the bike into the grass
Warning
- If you don't have a safety pad, study very slowly.
- If you're trying to jump, make sure you're within a distance that you can jump.
